There are two general methods for recognizing gestures. The first places sensors in our hands, similar to the classic Wiimote. The second places them in a fixed location, detecting everything within their range, Kinect style. The new BIRD device is shaping up to be a hybrid: a wearable accessory for your finger that works on any surface without needing to touch it.
Many companies believe the future of interfaces rests on gesture recognition. Over the years, we've seen all kinds of projects, and even several products successfully reached the market... but there's only one truth: they never gained traction because our current control methods work very well. Whether it's a mouse, keyboard, trackball, touchpad, touchscreen, digital pen, or drawing tablet, the user can develop a much more advanced level of precision than what gestures naturally allow. Now, how can this be optimized?
The BIRD device
The people at MUV Interactive believe they have the answer with their BIRD accessory. The user slips it onto their index finger like a wearable device, but BIRD goes much further, transforming panels, projectors, and essentially any surface into interactive platforms without the need to touch them. As you'd expect, BIRD recognizes all the basic gestures we're accustomed to, and at just 20 grams, it shouldn't be hard to wear on your finger for long periods. The best part of BIRD is undoubtedly its collaborative component: up to ten people can work on the same project or document without their BIRDs interfering.
As if that weren't enough, the plugin system in its official app opens the possibility of extending the use of the BIRD to external hardware such as Philips Hue lamps, or even flying a drone with your hand. The developers' goal is to make BIRD the ideal accessory for corporate settings, classrooms, and public presentations. Currently, the official price for the first 10,000 BIRDs is $149, and it will then jump to $249. BIRD has great potential, but honestly, so did other similar devices, and every time users ask themselves if they need gesture recognition, the answer is usually no. The BIRD faces a big challenge ahead.
